Former U.S. Treasury Secretary Lawrence H. Summers has resigned from his position on the board of directors at OpenAI. The move comes shortly after the congressional release of emails detailing his communications with the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.
In a public statement, Summers confirmed his departure, tying it to a broader decision to step back from his public commitments. The artificial intelligence company acknowledged his resignation and thanked him for his contributions during a pivotal period of its growth.
Key Takeaways
- Lawrence H. Summers has resigned from the OpenAI board of directors.
- The resignation follows the public release of emails showing his correspondence with Jeffrey Epstein.
- Summers has also stepped down from several other prominent board positions and public roles.
- He joined the OpenAI board in 2023 to help stabilize the company after the ousting and subsequent reinstatement of CEO Sam Altman.
The Catalyst for Departure
The decision by Summers to step down follows the release of more than 20,000 emails from the Epstein estate by lawmakers. These documents, made public earlier this month, included correspondence between Summers and Epstein from 2017 to 2019.
In his announcement, the 70-year-old former cabinet member framed the decision as part of a larger withdrawal from public life.
"In line with my announcement to step away from my public commitments, I have also decided to resign from the board of OpenAI," Summers stated. "I am grateful for the opportunity to have served, excited about the potential of the company and look forward to following their progress."
OpenAI’s board of directors issued a brief statement confirming the change. “We appreciate his many contributions and the perspective he brought to the board,” the company said.
A Series of Resignations
The departure from OpenAI is not an isolated event for Summers. The fallout from the email release has prompted him to relinquish several high-profile roles in recent days. This includes his board positions at:
- The Center for Global Development, where he served as chair
- The Peterson Institute for International Economics
- The Budget Lab at Yale University
- The Hamilton Project at the Brookings Institution
Harvard University Initiates Review
Harvard University, where Summers is a professor and a former president, has also taken action. The university announced this week that it will conduct a formal review of the ties that Summers and other officials had with Epstein to “evaluate what actions may be warranted.”
Summers addressed the controversy directly with his students during a recent economics class at Harvard. According to a video recorded by a student, he apologized for his association with Epstein. "Some of you will have seen my statement of regret expressing my shame with respect to what I did with Mr. Epstein," he told the class. "But I think it’s very important that I fulfill my teaching obligations."
Additionally, The New York Times has indicated it does not plan to renew Summers' contract as a contributing writer for its Opinion section.
Details from the Correspondence
The released emails show conversations between Summers and Epstein on a range of subjects. The two discussed various topics, including then-President Trump and general commentary on the intelligence of women.
Other exchanges reportedly show Summers seeking advice from Epstein regarding a romantic relationship with a mentee, Keyu Jin. Dr. Jin is a former professor at the London School of Economics and the daughter of a former high-ranking Chinese official. The emails suggest Summers was effusive in his praise for Dr. Jin's father.
Implications for OpenAI
Summers' tenure on the OpenAI board, though brief, was significant. He, along with former Salesforce executive Bret Taylor, was instrumental in navigating the company through its leadership crisis last year. His role was to provide experienced oversight as the company reinstated Sam Altman and expanded its board with five new independent directors.
His departure comes as OpenAI continues its rapid commercial expansion. The company recently transitioned to a for-profit structure, a move designed to help it raise the vast capital needed for advanced AI development. Its valuation has soared to over $500 billion, attracting tens of billions in private investment.
The company is now tasked with finding a replacement director who can help guide its complex mission of balancing commercial ambitions with its stated goal of ensuring artificial general intelligence benefits all of humanity. Summers' exit removes a prominent figure from its governance structure at a time of intense growth and public scrutiny.